B: As promised: rabies vector species (RVS). Maryland has four RVS - bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks. Other states generally have the same four though there might be an additional species. These four are so popular because they are the wild species statistically having rabies the most often (helped by the fact that citizens seem more ready to send them to the Health Department for rabies testing than other species).

As Alicia and I have talked about rabies before, I will not go into detail again here. Because the RVS-ness of these four species, Maryland wildlife rehabilitators (including all of us at Second Chance Wildlife Center) are only allowed to rehabilitate HEALTHY (meaning not sick or severely injured) YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR (meaning the animal is under the weaning age). The only exception to the young-of-the-year aspect are bats, somewhat due to their size. Any sick, severely injured or older specimens are to be euthanized and sent to our state Health Department for testing AS PER LAW. We may not like it as much as you do, but if we are in violation, our permits are revoked and citizens will be without their friendly, local neighborhood rehabilitators.

Determining the age of found raccoons, foxes and skunks is important, as elderly juveniles are considered adults by Maryland's Department of Natural Resources:

~ Foxes (both grey and red) resemble half-sized adults at around ten-weeks-old, so this size and smaller are allowable for rehabilitation. Grey foxes run a little smaller than their red counterparts, so try not to be fooled by an older grey fox masquerading as a baby.

~Raccoons resemble a half-sized adult at twelve-weeks-old, so this size and smaller are allowable for rehabilitation. The closer the babies get to that "magical" age of 16-weeks though, the more likely they are to be considered an adult.

~ Skunks resemble half-sized adults and are weaned at two months, so this size and smaller are allowable for rehabilitation. Due to their shy, nocturnal habits, SCWC rarely averages more than two each year.

Determining if the youngster needs to be brought to a rehabilitator is another story. Is the baby orphaned or will mom be able to rescue it, thus creating the best of endings - the baby wild animal will be raised in the wild by its own parent(s).

~ Social, colonial bats are born completely naked and mom will leave them in the nursing roost with the hundreds of other babies for warmth, humidity and protection while she feeds. Solitary, tree-dwelling bats are born furred and, if mom has two to four young, she may leave them on her branch roost. If she only has one (or she feels like being Super Mom, as most solitary bats do), she will carry it (or them) with her each night as she feeds.

If any babies are found on the ground (or floor of your attic), they will need to be taken to a rehabilitator IMMEDIATELY. Mom bats are hard-pressed to land on the ground, retrieve their young and take off successfully without being noticed by one of their many predators. The babies could die of hypothermia, even on a sticky July night, and should see a professional as soon as possible.

~ Foxes raise their young in multiple dens (growing is size as the kits do), so abandoned-appearing babies could just be the last one to be moved. Or the baby could have been dropped along the way by ambitious parents attempting to move more than they can handle. Give the parents time to retrieve their young. If the baby is still there after a couple of hours (or was left in harm’s way, such as in a busy road), it may need a rehabilitator’s care.

~ Raccoons mostly nest in trees. Watch any fallen babies from a safe distance (preferably inside somewhere) to see if mom gets them. Despite being nocturnal, mom raccoons will be out often during the day, beefing up her fat stores for milk production when her young are nursing and gathering food for them when they are getting weaned. If any grounded babies have not climbed back into their nest or mom has not retrieved them after about three hours (depending on the weather, of course), they may need a rehabilitator’s care.

~ Skunks are also raised in ground dens and their bad eye-sight can lead some babies to wander off. As their sense of smell and hearing are acute, moms are usually able to relocate their babies. If you should happen across a baby skunk left behind and it is now day time, it may need a rehabilitator’s care.

Of course, there are certain instances in which the animal should ALWAYS be brought to a rehabilitator’s or Animal Control Officer’s attention:

~ The animal bit or scratched a person or pet, or drooled into the open wound of a person or pet. As rabies is transmitted through saliva (and many of these animals groom themselves with their tongues), these dangerous activities should be reported to the proper authorities.

~ You know the mom is dead.

~ The baby was hit by a car, attacked by another animal or bought to you by your cat.

~ When you found it on the ground, there were ants, flies or other bugs on it.

Make sure that your local wildlife rehabilitator is licensed to work with RVS before you show up at their door with the baby in tow. State RVS licenses are separate from the state wildlife rehabilitator’s license and a rehabber MUST have the “regular” state license before obtaining the RVS license. Any rehabilitator who does not show you their licenses should be questioned; all of us here at SCWC are very proud of our licenses and keep them on display in our Front Office for all to see. I even carry a copy of mine in my car at all times; it has come in handy more often then not.

If you have to bring in the young RVS to your local rehabilitator, please make sure you proceed with EXTREME caution. Gloves are a MUST and leather welding gloves are the best protection. Even if you have only simple garden gloves, they are better than nothing. Drape the youngster with an old towel, “burrito” it loosely and place it in a size-appropriate cardboard container with secure lid. Try to avoid any direct contact and keep the baby as warm and quiet as possible. DO NOT attempt to feed the young anything as unskilled hands can do more harm then good and, unless you have a supply of raccoon or fox milk on hand, anything you attempt to feed it will be detrimental to its health. Plus it puts you that much more at risk since you are working in the prime saliva-producing area.

And a side-note about raccoons - most, if not all, carry a species of roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) which can be passed on to people and other animals. While it does little-to-no harm to the raccoon, it can be extremely painful and possibly fatal to others. Please throw out any towels, boxes and gloves that were used with raccoons. And try not to eat their poo..

Tune in next week for chapter IV - baby and adult birds.

Questions or comments about the Nut House blog? Comment below or email Brittany at nut.house.ab@gmail.com. Want to learn more about Second Chance Wildlife Center? Simply go to www.scwc.org.